Free Order to Show Cause - District Court of California - California

Case 3:07-cv-04899-MMC

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Filed 04/10/2008

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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MICHAEL B. NORDLOF,

United States District Court

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For the Northern District of California

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) ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) ) KEN CLARK, Warden, ) ) Respondent. ) ______________________________ )

No. C 07-4899 MMC (PR) ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

On September 21, 2007, petitioner, a California prisoner incarcerated at Corcoran
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State Prison and proceeding pro se, filed the above-titled petition for a writ of habeas corpus
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pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner has paid the filing fee.
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BACKGROUND
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In 2004, in the Superior Court of Humboldt County, petitioner was convicted of
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assault with a deadly weapon, attempted burglary, taking a vehicle without the owner's
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consent, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to sixteen years in
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state prison. The California Court of Appeal affirmed, and the California Supreme Court
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denied the petition for review.
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DISCUSSION
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This Court may entertain a petition for a writ of habeas corpus "in behalf of a person
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in custody pursuant to the judgment of a State court only on the ground that he is in custody
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in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a);
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Rose v. Hodges, 423 U.S. 19, 21 (1975). A district court shall "award the writ or issue an

Case 3:07-cv-04899-MMC

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order directing the respondent to show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the applicant or person detained is not entitled thereto." 28 U.S.C. § 2243. Summary dismissal is appropriate only where the allegations in the petition are vague or conclusory, palpably incredible, or patently frivolous or false. See Hendricks v. Vasquez, 908 F.2d 490, 491 (9th Cir. 1990) (quoting Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 75-76 (1977)). Petitioner claims that his convictions are invalid for the following reasons: the prosecutor suppressed material evidence favorable to petitioner; petitioner's attorney provided ineffective assistance of counsel; the trial court committed instructional error; and the evidence was insufficient to support the attempted burglary conviction. Liberally construed, petitioner's claims are cognizable. CONCLUSION For the reasons stated above, the Court orders as follows: 1. The Clerk of the Court shall serve by certified mail a copy of this order and the petition, along with all attachments thereto, upon respondent and respondent's counsel, the Attorney General for the State of California. The Clerk shall also serve a copy of this order on petitioner. 2. Respondent shall file with the Court and serve on petitioner, within ninety (90) days of the date this order is filed, an answer conforming in all respects to Rule 5 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, showing cause why a writ of habeas corpus should not be granted based on petitioner's cognizable claims. Respondent shall file with the answer and serve on petitioner a copy of all portions of the state trial record that have been transcribed previously and that are relevant to a determination of the issues presented by the petition. If petitioner wishes to respond to the answer, he shall do so by filing a traverse with the Court and serving it on respondent's counsel within thirty (30) days of the date the answer is filed. 3. In lieu of an answer, respondent may file, within ninety (90) days of the date this
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United States District Court

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For the Northern District of California

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Case 3:07-cv-04899-MMC

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Filed 04/10/2008

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order is filed, a motion to dismiss on procedural grounds, as set forth in the Advisory Committee Notes to Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases. If respondent files such a motion, petitioner shall file with the Court and serve on respondent an opposition or statement of non-opposition within thirty (30) days of the date the motion is filed, and respondent shall file with the Court and serve on petitioner a reply within fifteen (15) days of the date any opposition is filed. 4. Petitioner is reminded that all communications with the Court must be served on respondent by mailing a true copy of the document to respondent's counsel. 5. It is petitioner's responsibility to prosecute this case. Petitioner must keep the Court and respondent informed of any change of address and must comply with the Court's orders in a timely fashion. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). 6. Upon a showing of good cause, requests for a reasonable extension of time will be granted as long as they are filed on or before the deadline they seek to extend. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: April 10, 2008 _________________________ MAXINE M. CHESNEY United States District Judge

United States District Court

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For the Northern District of California

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